The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s (BFTP/NEP) Board of Directors has approved the investment of $542,400 in support of regional economic development. BFTP/NEP’s goal is to help lead northeastern Pennsylvania to a better economic future by building partnerships that develop and apply technology for competitive advantage. To achieve this goal, Ben Franklin staff concentrate their efforts on three key areas:
developing and growing early-stage technology-oriented companies,
helping established manufacturers creatively apply new technology and business practices to achieve industry leadership, and
promoting an innovative community-wide infrastructure that fosters a favorable business environment for high-growth companies.
Since beginning operation, BFTP/NEP has helped to create 16,600 new jobs for Pennsylvania workers and to retain 22,958 existing jobs, to start 470 new companies, and to develop 1,356 new products and processes. Since 2007, BFTP/NEP clients have generated more than $1.357 billion in follow-on funding. The Pennsylvania Ben Franklin Technology Partners network has returned $3.60 to the state treasury for every $1.00 invested in the program. Ben Franklin Technology Partners is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and is funded by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority.BFTP/NEP owns and manages Ben Franklin TechVentures®, an award-winning business incubator/post-incubator facility on Lehigh University’s campus in Bethlehem at which it is headquartered. BFTP/NEP also manages the Bloomsburg Regional Technology Center in Bloomsburg.
Ben Franklin announces the following early-stage company investments that are provided to clients in the form of loans.
CDC Software, LLC, Bloomsburg Regional Technology Center, Bloomsburg, Columbia County
Ben Franklin Investment: $100,000
Expand commercialization of CDC Software’s DTK product that greatly reduces the time and cost of integrating telephony systems with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and business systems. Highly configurable and supporting all major telephony providers, the DTK software provides complete customer data immediately to a representative answering a customer’s call.
Gilson Boards, New Berlin, Snyder County
Ben Franklin Investment: $50,000
Expand marketing efforts, leading to a full-scale launch of Gilson’s innovative snowboards. Applying aeronautical engineering concepts, Gilson Boards have a three-dimensional base that is faster, stronger, and more flexible than traditional products, storing more energy for the “pop” that is sought by snowboarders.
Map Decisions, LLC, Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem, Northampton County
Ben Franklin Investment: $100,000
Provide sales, marketing, and technical development support. Map Decisions produces infrastructure asset and work management software and provides field mapping and data management services. The company’s secure, cloud-based mobile platform is designed for state and local governments, utilities, oil and gas, transportation, and construction industries. Map Decisions helps organizations increase operational efficiency, improve customer service, reduce compliance risks, and decrease operational costs.
Medicine in Practice, Inc., Bloomsburg Regional Technology Center, Bloomsburg, Columbia County
Ben Franklin Investment: $25,000
Add learning content and build out the WEBFlex training platform. Medicine in Practice provides clinical researchers in biopharma and academia with on-demand compliance training in transparency initiatives. The company’s unique WEBFlex training method combines the ease and affordability of webinars with the sophistication of eLearning.
Medtrics Lab, LLC, Lewisburg, Union County
Ben Franklin Investment: $50,000
Continue development of Medtrics’ modern, enterprise-level clinical education platform that helps hospitals and universities maintain accreditation and manage the training of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers. Funding will be used to further scale the technology and to present at various national and international medical conferences.
MindMe, Inc., Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem, Northampton County
Ben Franklin Investment: $50,000
Complete beta development and testing of MindMe’s suite of software solutions designed for small and independent businesses to better enable them to capture, convert, organize, and engage their leads and customers. The new mobile app will combine powerful multi-channel voice, text, email and social communication with voice calling, contact management, lead capture, drip, and responsive outbound marketing. It will expand to include dynamic scheduling, payment processing, service management, and more.
TSG Software, Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem, Northampton County
Ben Franklin Investment: $50,000
Support a focused sales and marketing effort in commercializing software for the building maintenance industry, property and facility managers, and building management contractors. TSG’s reliable and affordable Accelerator CC® brings traditionally manual processes into cloud software with mobile solutions to automate mission-critical processes, eliminating workflow disruption.
WellSeal Corporation, Selinsgrove, Snyder County
Ben Franklin Investment: $20,000
Accelerate the commercial launch of WellSeal, a new, patent-pending, tamper-evident device for well heads that helps maintain well integrity. WellSeal allows users to print information on the seal and also provides an identifier to help owners avoid hitting the well head with lawn equipment. Customers include well drillers and well servicers, the EPA, and consumers.
Ben Franklin announces the following established manufacturer company investments. Ben Franklin provides 1:1 matching funding for work with a college or university partner on technology-based manufacturing innovation in established manufacturers.
Benton Foundry, Inc., Benton, Columbia County
College Partner: Northampton Community College’s Emerging Technology Applications Center
Ben Franklin Investment: $22,400
Implement energy saving processes as this producer of gray and ductile iron castings expands operations. Enhancements will continue to improve energy and operational efficiency, increase throughput, and heighten product quality to make the foundry more competitive.
East Penn Manufacturing Company, Lyon Station, Berks County
College Partner: Northampton Community College’s Emerging Technology Applications Center
Ben Franklin Investment: $25,000
Develop a complete analysis of recycling considerations at East Penn, especially as it relates to the growing need for new battery technology due to the growth in the hybrid electric vehicle market and other alternative energy uses. East Penn is a leading manufacturer and recycler of advanced lead-acid battery products, and the largest manufacturing employer in Berks County.
Giorgio Foods, Inc., Blandon, Berks County
University Partner: Lehigh University’s Enterprise Systems Center
Ben Franklin Investment: $25,000
Develop a facility planning scenario to help Giorgio optimize current and future facility utilization. Giorgio is a manufacturer of retail food products including appetizers and mushrooms, and various food service products such as pizza, mini- and full-size crescents, pierogies, quiche, frozen mushrooms, and Artisan bakery products.
Orbel Corporation, Easton, Northampton County
University Partner: Lehigh University’s Enterprise Systems Center
Ben Franklin Investment: $25,000
Implement a new Enterprise Resource Planning system at this manufacturer of customized electronic components such as precision metal parts and stampings for the medical, electronics, and aerospace markets. The system will improve operations, data governance, and operational effectiveness.